Elite Smiles - July 2018

people, but the train station wasn’t expecting such a rush of people all at once. It took a long time to get on a train home.

This is also the time of year when I think of all the veterans who fought for our country. Our Independence Day serves to celebrate when the United

There are two big topics on my mind this month, the Fourth of July in Chicago and our nonprofit organization, Warrior Smiles.

The Fourth is a special time when you can bring your family closer together to watch fireworks and reflect on the birth of our country. I celebrate the Fourth by going up to Chicago to spend time with my family. I’m originally from the area, and it’s great to see the city and spend time with them. We usually head down to Navy Pier to watch the fireworks display along Lake Michigan and then stay in the city to experience Taste of Chicago. It’s a family vacation that we look forward to each year.

States of America became an independent nation. I always remember those who endeavored to make that happen and the people who continue to protect our independence today. I have always admired our veterans and what they’ve done for us. I wanted to show my appreciation to them and thought, “What better way than to provide them with a better smile?” We at Elite Smiles started a nonprofit organization called Warrior Smiles. The organization services any veterans who come through our doors all year with free dental implants. It wasn’t until recently that Warrior Smiles became an entity, but we had been thinking about it and serving veterans long before it came into fruition. One of our board members, Amy Shindler, is a veteran who served in Iraq. Amy is at the forefront of Warrior Smiles, giving her all as we try to help veterans out as best we can.

Taste of Chicago takes place in Grant Park and lasts for five days each summer. Restaurants throughout the whole city set up tents there, where anyone can stop by and try the different foods they offer. It’s a great chance to sample cuisine that you can’t find anywhere else. I always look forward to the pizza in Chicago, especially my favorite, Gino’s East pizza. If you’re used to Chicago’s famous pizza, you might look at a New York slice, for example, and wonder, “Where’s the rest of it?” I’ve been going to Taste of Chicago ever since I was a kid. One year, my family and I went, but we didn’t expect things to get as crazy as they did. That particular year, there was a massive thunderstorm that hit right in the middle of Taste of Chicago. I remember the lightning and thunder being incredible. The streets ended up flooding because all the garbage from the event clogged up the drains, and the city filled with at least a foot of water. When I was living in the area, we lived out in the suburbs and would take the commuter train to go into the city. When the storm hit, there were close to a million people running for cover and into the train stations. Making our way back home was difficult. Not only was it hot and humid with the combination of the weather and the number of

“I WANTED TO SHOW MY APPRECIATION TO THEM, AND THOUGHT, ‘WHAT BETTER WAY THAN TO PROVIDE THEM WITH A BETTER SMILE?’”

Take some time this month to spend with your family and reflect on how important our veterans are. Whether you throw a barbecue, wave a flag, or watch fireworks, I hope you have a wonderful July.